Chapter 28: Slander and Malice

  "Fang Shu, Zhang Yu Xin..." Jiang Jing Qi stood in the hall calling out the two names, her voice as loud as a bell, completely unlike the gentle and soft tone of the eldest miss.

  "Yes, yes, yes......" Fang Shu and Zhang Yu Xin hurriedly came from the servant's quarters, both of them knelt on the ground, nodding their heads, waiting for their master's words.

  "Come quickly." Jiang Jingqi pointed with an air of arrogance, waiting for the two to hurry over. Only then was she satisfied. With her hands on her hips, she commanded, "Later, set out a few more sets of tableware, Brother Chen'an is staying for dinner."

  "Yes." The two nodded repeatedly, stood up and were about to leave without waiting for Jiang Jingqi's further instructions.

  "Wait." Zhang Yu Xin and Fang Shu immediately turned back, re-kneeling on the ground. "But today's dishes I want to be a bit special, how about making braised beef specially for Brother Chen An?"

  Aunt Fang smiled and nodded, "Okay." She immediately got up again.

  "Wait."

  "Yes yes yes."

  "You should answer 'Yes, Master'." Jiang Jingqi corrected the two people's dialogue.

  "What?" Zhang Yuxin rolled her eyes, this young lady in front of her was a bit too much, even though she had been serving her for a long time and had been so humble, what else did this miss want?!

  "Yes, master." After all, she had seen the world and served many masters before. This was nothing compared to her salary. Fang Shu patted Zhang Yu Xin's indomitable personality and anger, bowing her head in obedience.

  "Yes, master." Zhang Yuxin replied weakly.

  "Not in unison, say it again."

  "Yes, master." Zhang Yuxin remained expressionless, while Fang Shu accompanied with a smile, and the two finally spoke in unison.

  "It's really a short memory." Jiang Jingqi's temper flared up again, lecturing with a tone of resentment, "Why do you always have to annoy me. 'Yes, master' did you remember?"

  "Yes, master." This time, both of them laughed brightly and said in unison.

  Jiang Jingqi finally relented, letting out a cold snort at the two of them, furrowing her brow. "Hmph, I'm going to touch up my makeup." She then turned and walked away, not caring what the people behind her thought.

  After Jiang Jingqi left, Zhang Yuxin angrily pounded the ground, "Just posing, still want to reapply makeup, wanting to become a demon?"

  "That's enough, Zhang Yuxin! Go quickly!" Fang Aunt slapped Zhang Yuxin's head and scolded, "Go help in the kitchen, or we'll be splashed again, go!"

  "Yes, master." He nodded at Aunt Fang, got up and left the living room with a swaying figure.

  "So you're here, I've been looking all over for you." Pushing open the door, Zhang Yu Xin followed Fang Shu into the room, where she saw Hua Mu Qing sitting in the servant's quarters, constantly pouring water into her mouth and fanning herself with her hand.

  As she walked over, Fang Aunt scolded her with a superior attitude, "You're here to work, not drink water." Seeing Hua Muqing dazed, Fang Aunt urged, "What are you still dazing about? Hurry up and come help out."

  Walking into the kitchen, Aunt Fang picked up the plate on the table and ordered Huamu Qing: "Take the plate and go set the table." At Huamu Qing's hesitation, Aunt Fang yelled, "What are you dawdling for, hurry up!"

  Huā mù qíng zhèng yào wǎng kè tīng zǒu qù, kě shì jiǎo yī wāi, shǒu shàng de pán dié chà diǎn diào luò dì, hái hǎo jí shí wěn zhù le.

  Standing next to Huamu Qing, Zhang Yuxin, who was also holding a wine glass and plate, said, "Clumsy and careless, do you know that these plates are priceless? If you break one, your salary won't be enough to compensate for it."

  Just as the words were spoken, Zhang Yu Xin suddenly hugged the plate and brushed past Hua Mu Qing's side, intentionally bumping into her arm. Hua Mu Qing dodged in time, but was still startled by the sudden movement. The plate tilted due to the impact, but Hua Mu Qing quickly stretched out a hand and managed to steady it, preventing it from shattering.

  Watching Zhang Yuxin's departing back, Huamu Qing gritted her teeth and reacted afterwards, immediately chasing after her. She still remembered her mission to go and help out.

  In the dining room, Zeng Ling held a small piece of paper with dense writing on it in one hand and a dinner fork in the other. She muttered to herself, "Fork, left side." Then she put the fork on the left side of the tablecloth. After glancing at the words on the paper again, she said, "Spoon, right side."

  Just as Zeng Ling was about to put the spoon on the right side, Zhang Yu Xin walked in from outside with a tray. Looking at Zeng Ling's slow movements, she said angrily, "Good grief, Sister Ling, why haven't you finished these yet? The young lady will scold someone again when she sees this later."

  "Do you think setting a table is simple?" Zeng Ling placed her hand on the chair back, her tone expressing skepticism towards Zhang Yu Xin's words.

  At this time, Hanaoki Haruka also walked in from outside with a plate, "Ling Jie..."

  "Muzhi, where have you run off to? I haven't seen you for a few minutes and it feels like the end of the world. Ling Jie thought Muzhi was going to hug her, but instead she had a crying face, as if Muzhi had abandoned her."

  Zhang Yuxin heard Zeng Ling's nauseating words and gave her a disdainful look, turning her head and ignoring the two of them.

  "Ling, I'll do it!" Huamu Qing said, putting the plate on the table. She knew she was worried about this, but these things were easy for her to handle. When they were at home, they often had Western food, and although it wasn't a familiar routine, it was also effortless for her.

  Zhang Yuxin stood beside him, too lazy to ask more questions, "Can you handle it? We set the table in Western style here."

  Huamu Qing looked at Zhang Yuxin and didn't answer her question, but instead smiled slightly and asked Zeng Ling behind him, "How many people are having dinner, Sister Ling?"

  Zeng Ling counted with her hand, "Five people."

  "Five people, right!" Hanaki Haruka turned around and started setting the table with spoons and plates that were specifically for Western-style meals.

  Huā Mù Qíng's hands and feet moved quickly and nimbly, arranging the tableware one by one with ease, without needing to look at the notes or ask them, everything was neat and clean.

  Zeng Ling and Zhang Yu Xin stared at each other in surprise, both looking at the protagonist with astonishment, never expecting that such a young girl would know so much.

  After the tableware was arranged one by one, Huamu Qing patted her hands and looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction. Her eyes glanced at the flowers in the middle of the table, reached out to pick them up, but were stopped by Zhang Yu Xin, who had her hands on her hips.

  "Hey, your job is to set the table, don't touch anything else, take away that vase, or you'll get scolded." Zhang Yuxin's eyes widened, revealing her fierce and intimidating side, ruining her usual gentle and delicate demeanor.

  Huamu Qing didn't retort, silently changed the flower pot and gently put the vase back, muttering to herself, "Not helping out, yet scolding others."